Doug Steele (aka John Sanders) is the guitarist for Australian progressive metal band Alarum (https://www.alarum.com), known for blending technical playing with a strong sense of groove and melody. He also plays in C()ntact (C()ntact Official) , a metal covers band performing everything from Warrant to Pantera, and serves as guitarist for Heavy Choir (https://www.heavychoirproject.com), Melbourne’s annual large-scale metal vocal ensemble. Earlier in his career, Doug co-founded the studio project Flatstick (https://flatstick.bandcamp.com) with fellow guitar teacher Gary McKay (RIP). Their 2000 release Omnicore gained traction on mp3.com and drew interest from artists like Chris Adler (Lamb of God), Glen Sobel, and Haji’s Kitchen. Plans for a second album were cut short when Gary passed away and the recordings were lost in the Black Saturday fires, but Doug is currently re-recording the material with guest musicians.
Beyond the stage, Doug’s career extends into broadcasting—he was a radio personality on Australia’s Austereo network and has contributed to various music columns and podcasts, both as a host and guest. On YouTube / DS Official, he shares his deep love of 1980s guitar, especially Eddie Van Halen’s groundbreaking work from 1978 to 1984. Originally from Fresno, California, Doug now lives in Melbourne with his wife, Alex.
MUSIC
Albums: Fluid Motion (1999), Eventuality (2004), Natural Causes (2011), Circle’s End (2020).
Latest Alarum Tour
Europe 2012: Alarum and Levitation Hex. Progpower Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Budapest, France, Czech Republic, Slovenia.
Flatstick was a studio-only project formed by guitarist Doug Steele and his close friend and fellow guitar teacher Gary McKay (RIP). Their 2000 album Omnicore stayed in mp3.com’s metal top 10 for nearly a year and drew attention from Chris Adler (Lamb of God), Glen Sobel, and Haji’s Kitchen. About 500 copies were sold through the music store where they worked, but plans for a second album were tragically cut short when Gary passed away from cancer and the original recordings were lost in the Black Saturday fires. Doug is now re-recording the album with guest guitarists, determined to finally release it.
Past bands include Flatstick, Brothel, and Sinister Sam.
Online Presence
Doug Steele YouTube Channel
Subscribers: 23.4K
Video Views: 5.2 million+(roughly 1,500 hits per day)
Online TV personality: Heavy TV (for a few years).
Guitar Columnist: Heavy Magazine (Australia wide)
Endorsements
D’Addario, Planet Waves, SKB Cases
Dream endorsements: Ibanez, Line 6, Dickies
Private / Online guitar instructor
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Bio – Doug Steele
1984
Started playing guitar at age 15. Gained skills through years of playing in bands.
1998–1999
Clinician for Ibanez Guitars and Peavey Amps. Performed guitar clinics across Victoria with Harvey James (Sherbet). Showcased the Ibanez Universe 7-string, Steve Vai Jem, and Peavey amps.
1999–2001
Guitar teacher at Main Street Music. Taught students of all levels, tracked progress, managed lesson plans, and handled customer service.
1999–2004
Radio personality “Doug Steele” on the Austereo Network. Member of five different night shows. Roles included promotions, panel operation, MC-ing, segment production, voice-overs, and live music performances (guitar/vocals). Played at Frankston Guitarfest.
2005–2007
Line 6 clinician (via Musiclink). Toured Australia demonstrating products such as the Pod XT Live and Variax guitars. Performed in music stores and at trade events using Line 6 gear.
2007–2010
Lead guitarist and vocalist for Melbourne cover band Dr Nick. Performed regularly at large venues (300–500 people), including Crown Casino. Handled lead and harmony vocals, and quickly learned new material.
2010–2013
Part of Bottoms Up, an acoustic duo that played cover gigs across Melbourne. Worked with AES booking agency. Responsible for arranging and performing a wide variety of songs on demand. Played guitar, sang lead and harmonies.
2010–Present
Joined Alarum, Australia’s premier progressive thrash band.
2012
Toured Europe with Alarum (3 weeks). Played shows in Germany, Slovenia, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and France.
2013
Performed guitar demos at Brisbane Guitarfest with Alex Bolt and Dean Guitars.
2020
Alarum released the full-length album Circle’s End on Dinner for Wolves. Outsold all previous releases combined.
2021
Joined the Melbourne Metal Choir as the band’s guitarist. First performance sold out. Next major show scheduled for June 2023.
2022
Started writing the fifth Alarum album.
Joined third band C()ntact, performing metal covers. First show: December 10, 2022.
2023–2024
Live performances with both Alarum and C()ntact.
Co-wrote and recorded the Alarum album Recontinue.
On November 8, 2024, released Recontinue, followed by a national tour with death metal legends Pestilence.
Performed two sold-out Metal Choir shows, with C()ntact as the backing band.
2025
Busy year of live shows with Alarum, including supports for international acts Left to Die and Atheist.
Gene Hoglan of Deathklok publicly praised Alarum—Deathklok played Crystals and Sand just before walking onstage.
Shows scheduled in Tasmania and at the Blackened Festival in Alice Springs, with talk of a small Japanese tour toward the end of the year.
Doug Steele 